Dhurandhar: The Revenge, starring Ranveer Singh and directed by Aditya Dhar, is creating waves at the box office with its extraordinary performance. Within just three days of its release, the film has crossed the Rs 500 crore mark worldwide, making it one of the fastest grossing Indian films in recent times. Ranveer Singh's Dhurandhar 2 enters Rs 500 crore club Released on March 19, the action packed spy thriller opened to massive numbers and continued to gain momentum over its first weekend. The film saw a sharp rise in collections on day three, fuelled by strong word of mouth and heavy footfall in theatres. This surge helped it comfortably enter the Rs 500 crore club in record time. The film’s impressive run can be credited to several factors, including the success and recall value of its first installment, strong advance bookings, and immense audience curiosity. Even before hitting theatres, the film had generated significant revenue through paid previews, reflecting the scale of anticipation surrounding the project. Featuring an ensemble cast that includes Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Rampal, R Madhavan, and Rakesh Bedi alongside Ranveer Singh, the film has received praise for its gripping storyline, high octane action sequences, and grand cinematic scale. Both audiences and critics have responded positively, further boosting its collections. Surpasses records of these Bollywood hits The timing of the release has also played a crucial role in its success. Arriving during festive occasions like Ugadi and Gudi Padwa, the film benefited from increased theatre turnout across regions. Due to overwhelming demand, several cinemas introduced additional late night and early morning shows to accommodate viewers. What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that the film has reportedly surpassed the opening weekend collections of several major Bollywood releases, including War, Dunki, and Tiger 3. This milestone highlights the film’s dominance and widespread appeal among audiences. With such a strong start, trade experts believe Dhurandhar: The Revenge is likely to maintain its momentum in the coming days. Its record breaking opening not only marks a major success for the team but also signals a boost for the Hindi film industry. As the film continues its impressive run, all eyes are now on its long term performance and whether it can set new benchmarks at the box office.
22 March,2026 12:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran actor Rakesh Bedi is enjoying a wave of appreciation following the success of his latest film Dhurandhar: The Revenge. Amid the film’s strong box office performance and growing buzz, an old video of the actor has resurfaced online, leaving fans both amused and amazed. Dhurandhar 2 has been ruling charts The clip, which is nearly 12 years old, is from the popular television show Qubool Hai. In the scene, Bedi’s character is seen referring to himself as “Dhurandhar,” a moment that has now taken on a whole new meaning for viewers. Fans were quick to connect this dialogue with his current role in Dhurandhar: The Revenge, calling it an uncanny coincidence. The video was shared on social media and quickly went viral, with users reacting with laughter and surprise. Many described it as a case of “manifestation,” suggesting that the actor had unknowingly predicted his association with the film years ago. Others praised director Aditya Dhar for what they called “peak detailing,” even though the clip predates the film by over a decade. Rakesh Bedi's video goes viral In Qubool Hai, which starred Karan Singh Grover and Surbhi Jyoti, Bedi appeared in a track involving the lead characters’ fake engagement storyline. His character, an official determined to deport Zoya, had only a brief presence, but the resurfaced dialogue has now become a highlight for fans revisiting the show. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mantoo Memer (@mantoomemer) The renewed attention has also brought focus back to Bedi’s long and diverse career in television and films. Known for his comic timing and memorable supporting roles, the actor has once again found himself in the spotlight thanks to this unexpected viral moment. Meanwhile, Dhurandhar: The Revenge, which features stars like Ranveer Singh, continues to perform strongly and dominate conversations online. The film’s popularity has only amplified interest in behind-the-scenes trivia and connections, making the resurfaced clip even more entertaining for audiences. What makes the moment special is not just the coincidence, but how it bridges the past and present of Bedi’s career. For fans, it’s a delightful reminder that sometimes, the most surprising connections emerge years later—turning a simple line from an old show into a viral sensation.
22 March,2026 11:08 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe latest to praise Aditya Dhar's directorial Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge is none other than filmmaker S. S. Rajamouli. He lauded Dhar's craft as a filmmaker and also praised performances by R Madhavan and Ranveer Singh. He also spoke about the almost four-hour runtime of the film. SS Rajamouli praises Dhurandhar 2 Taking to his social media account, the ace filmmaker, tagging R. Madhavan, wrote, “You carried the helplessness and frustration of a nation so well that we felt your success as ours.” Rajamouli then went onto appreciate the sequel’s scale and storytelling. He said, “I loved Dhurandhar-1, but The Revenge surpassed the original in both scale and soul.” He added, “The writing, casting, technical execution, music, world design and direction are flawless…. But it’s the emotional stakes that really ground it.” The Baahubali director further added, “The writing manages to weave plot twists that create genuine tension charged with emotion. @AdityaDharFilms, you hit it out of the park. It takes guts to make and release a film 4 hours long. The audience is glued to the seat till the last frame.” Lauding the performances of the stars in the movie, he added, “@RanveerOfficial, what a performance man… The sequence with the sister in the shed is a masterclass in acting. From that beginning to the heart-wrenching climax, you mesmerized us both as Hamza and Jaskirat.” Talking about Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge, R Madhavan role and performance has added depth to the narrative, further grounding the larger-than-life story in realistic sense and human vulnerability. I loved Dhurandhar-1, but The Revenge surpassed the original in both scale and soul.The writing, casting, technical execution, music, world design and direction are flawless…. But it’s the emotional stakes that really ground it.The writing manages to weave plot twists that… — rajamouli ss (@ssrajamouli) March 21, 2026 Dhurandhar director Aditya Dhar responded to Rajamouli's appreciation with a moving note. He replied, "Dearest Sir, this means more than I can put into words. Coming from you, it feels like both a blessing and a responsibility. As filmmakers, we grow up learning from the worlds you build and the emotions you make us feel, so to see Dhurandhar resonate with you at this level is deeply personal." "We only tried to tell a story with honesty and conviction, and push ourselves a little further in scale and more importantly in soul. Your words reaffirm that Indian cinema can dream big, feel deeply, and speak to the world without losing its roots. Grateful, humbled, and inspired to keep raising the bar. Lots of Love!" he added. Dhurandhar 2 box office Ranveer Singh’s much-awaited espionage drama Dhurandhar 2 has created a storm at the box office. The film opened to massive numbers, crossing the Rs 100 crore mark on its very first day. Roadblocks like show delays and cancellations failed to slow its momentum. As per trade trackers, the Aditya Dhar directorial minted Rs 102.55 crore on opening day, with the Hindi version contributing a lion’s share of Rs 99.10 crore. Interestingly, the first instalment, Dhurandhar, the all-time highest Hindi grosser, had opened at Rs 27 crore in December 2025 — meaning the sequel earned nearly four times more on day one. The Kannada and Malayalam versions, which could not hold paid previews due to technical issues and non-availability of content, collected Rs 0.8 crore and Rs 0.9 crore respectively. The Tamil version earned Rs 1.16 crore from 958 shows in India, while the Telugu version collected Rs 2.12 crore.
22 March,2026 10:59 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActor Neil Nitin Mukesh is presently occupied with his Mollywood debut "Khalifa". Neil and the team of his next are shooting for their forthcoming project in Kozhikode, and they all decided to celebrate Eid in the presence of some great company and, of course, Biryani. The 'Jail' actor took to the Stories section of his official Instagram handle and shared a video of everyone waiting for the biryani on the set. As soon as the pot was uncovered, all got in line to relish the festive delicacy. Along with the clip, Neil also included the text, "Eid celebrations were special on the beautiful lands of Kozhikode/ Calicut with my awesome director directorvysakh sir producer jiinuinnovation thedonmichael and the enter crew. Blessed (sic)." "PS: Best Biryani ever!!! Burp !!," he added. On Neil's birthday in January, the makers officially welcomed him to the Malayalam industry. Wishing him on his special day, the leading man of "Khalifa", Prithviraj Sukumaran wrote on social media, “Happy birthday, Neil Nitin Mukesh! Welcome to the Malayalam film industry! #KHALIFA”. Made under the direction of Vysakh, "Khalifa" marks the filmmaker's reunion with Prithviraj after a long gap of 15 years. They last worked together in the 2010 superhit "Pokkiri Raja". Written by Jinu V Abraham, the drama talks about a massive multi-million dollar gold smuggling racket operating out of the Middle East, with its networks stretching from London and Nepal to Kerala. Talking about the technical crew, the camera work for the movie is being performed by Jomon T. John, with Jakes Bejoy scoring the tunes for "Khalifa". Chaman Chakko is on board the team as the editor, and Yannick Ben is directing the action sequences of the drama. Along with Neil and Prithviraj, the core cast of the movie also includes Tovino Thomas, Mohanlal, and Krithi Shetty. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 March,2026 10:45 AM IST | Mumbai | IANSSix years after her turn in Ala Vaikunthapurramuloo (2020), Tabu returns to South cinema with filmmaker Puri Jagannadh’s upcoming action thriller, Slumdog — 33 Temple Road. The pan-India feature, which also stars Vijay Sethupathi and Samyuktha in primary roles, is currently in post-production and will release later this year. Smitten by the calibre and “confidence” of her co-stars, Samyuktha, who has been observing them on set, shares, “They walk and perform with an ease, and have an effortless way of handling things.” Vijay Sethupathi. Pics/AFP For Tabu, the project is akin to coming home, as the Bollywood star hails from Hyderabad. Samyuktha shares her excitement about hearing Tabu converse with the cast and crew in Telugu. The actor says her co-star made her feel included, despite it being their first collaboration. Puri Jagannadh “She is a Hyderabad girl! Being the least experienced person there, I would listen to Zarina [Wahab] ma’am and Tabu ma’am talk in Telugu. I heard so many stories from them. I felt very included. There wasn’t any vibe of ‘You need to be away from us because we’re talking.’ I always felt a sense of inclusivity, which I loved.” May 2026Release date of ‘Slumdog — 33 Temple Road’
22 March,2026 09:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaNo regrets, Pushpa A still from ‘Pushpa 2 and Divi Vadthya. Pics/Instagram Actor Divi Vadthya hasn’t held back on her disappointment over her role in Pushpa 2: The Rule (2024), starring Allu Arjun, Rashmika Mandanna, and Fahadh Faasil. Speaking recently on the Visual Talks Podcast, she said, “I was told it would be a big role. I had high expectations.” Divi admitted she felt “very bad” after watching the film. “I dubbed for 10 days and shot for 20 days, but I was shocked.” She didn’t sugarcoat her regret either. “You just have to pat yourself on the back and move on.” ‘World is coming closer’ Priyanka Mohan and Park Hye-jin in ‘Made in Korea’ (right) Aamir Khan. Pics/Ashish Raje, Instagram Director Ra Karthik and actor Priyanka Mohan are loving the cultural crossover their film Made in Korea brings to the table. The drama follows a young woman obsessed with all things Korean, and blends two worlds through a shared love for cinema and pop culture. If Indians can’t get enough of K-dramas, BTS, K-pop, and K-food, South Koreans, it seems, are equally smitten with Aamir Khan and the film, 3 Idiots (2009), Mohan told PTI. Karthik revealed that the idea stemmed from a more personal space — his wife’s deep love for Korean culture, from kimchi to Korean buns she would whip up at home.
22 March,2026 08:55 AM IST | Mumbai | The Hitlist TeamIt is strange, almost jarring, that a film about the devastation of Gaza has found ways to be screened in Israel itself, and yet, in India, it has not secured clearance. Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, The Voice of Hind Rajab reconstructs the true story of Hind Rajab, a young girl fleeing Gaza City with her family in January 2024. Their car, however, came under fire from Israeli forces. The film unfolds from the perspective of Palestinian Red Crescent volunteers, who remain on call with Rajab as she tells them, in fear, that her cousins are already dead, and pleads with them not to leave her alone. The docudrama is anchored by Rajab’s real voice recordings from her final moments. She was never rescued. Twelve days later, her body was discovered alongside her relatives and the two volunteers who had tried to reach her. India distributor Manoj Nandwana For India distributor Manoj Nandwana, the effort to bring the Oscar-nominated film to Indian audiences has been cumbersome. “The Voice of Hind Rajab is not banned in Israel. Their courts tossed out the efforts to ban films. We went to the Board [Central Board of Film Certification, CBFC] on February 27, where it was viewed by five people. They said it needs to go to the revising committee,” he explains, adding, “They feel the film could sever Indo-Israel relations and is [too] sensitive.” The film was scheduled to release on March 6, but that date has now been pushed. “But they’re not saying no.” Brad Pitt (L), Joaquin Phoenix (R), Rooney Mara, Alfonso Cuarón, Jonathan Glazer, and Spike Lee have joined the film as executive producers According to Nandwana, the Board did not return with a list of cuts or a formal objection, but instead left the film in limbo. “They feel the film is against Israel, but it’s not. It’s anti-war. It’s about saving a child. There’s no issue like violence, nudity, and direct political instruction either,” he says. The delay has resulted in a “complete loss for me”. “I felt it had the legs to fare well. Usually, docudramas don’t do as well, but a lot was going for the film — its theme, the accolades. In India, we didn’t get permission for any festival either. The film has now gone to revising committee but no screening date has been given so far.” Did you know?‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ holds the record for the longest standing ovation in the history of the Venice Film Festival (23 minutes and 50 seconds).
22 March,2026 08:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuIt takes years to move from paper to screen. For Amol Parashar’s The Bureaucrat, the wait from first hearing the script to going on floors stretched to about two years. “A filmmaker friend, who had read the story, suggested I do the show. He introduced me to Abhishek [Dhandharia, producer], but logistical issues kept delaying it,” shares the actor. Dhandharia reconnected with him six months ago when it was finally greenlit. The idea of a civil services aspirant-turned-conman was too tempting for Parashar. “Shiddat se likhi hui cheezein, thode kam aate hain,” smiles the actor, adding that the pieces of the story fit well on paper, which got him “excited about the character.” Aware that there is no dearth of stories centred around the UPSC — Aspirants, now in its third season, and Vikrant Massey’s 12th Fail (2023) — Parashar is confident his show stands apart, as it uses civil services only as a backdrop. “UPSC [Union Public Service Commission] is a big part of our culture. The Bureaucrat is different from 12th Fail or Aspirants. Although the backdrop is UPSC, the texture, genre, and flow of events is fresh. It’s more of a conman story,” he says, adding that the shoot will wrap up in 20 days. On ‘Gram Chikitsalay 2’ Amol Parashar confirms he wrapped up ‘Gram Chikitsalay 2’ before starting work on ‘The Bureaucrat’. “We shot in Madhya Pradesh this time. For season one, we shot in Chhattisgarh. We have onboarded a new director.” Projects based on aspiring IAS officers (L-R) Stills from ‘Aspirants’ and ‘12th Fail’
22 March,2026 08:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Priyanka SharmaDays after getting discharged from the hospital following prolonged health crises, veteran writer Salim Khan made his first appearance on Saturday on the occasion of Eid. The screenwriter joined his family, including sons Salman Khan, Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan, as they all greeted their fans. Salman Khan also shared a video of the same, sharing his father's health update, thanking fans and wishing them on the festival. Salim Khan makes first appearance after discharge In the videos surfaced on social media, Salim Khan is seen in a wheelchair on the balcony of their Galaxy apartment as he waved at fans and the media outside. Salim was joined by his entire family, including wife Salma Khan, sons Salman Khan, Sohail Khan and Arbaaz Khan and daughters Alvira Khan Agnihotri and Arpita Khan. Salim Khan’s grandchildren also accompanied him for the balcony appearance. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Salman Khan (@beingsalmankhan) For the occasion, Salman Khan was seen sporting a brown shirt with blue denim as he greeted fans with folded hands, waved and even blew a kiss to his fans. For the unversed, Salim Khan was discharged from Mumbai’s Lilavati hospital on March 17 following a month of treatment there. Doctors had earlier confirmed that the writer had suffered a minor haemorrhage. “There was minimal brain haemorrhage. A small procedure was done this morning, and it was accomplished. He is fine and stable, but is still on a ventilator. By tomorrow, hopefully, we will take him off the ventilator. All in all, he’s doing quite well. Keeping his age in mind, the recovery time is longer," Dr Jaleel Parkar had stated. Salman Khan wishes fans on Eid 2026 Meanwhile, Salman Khan took to social media to share a glimpse of his Eid celebrations with fans, where he was joined by his entire family. Wishing his fans, Salman Khan shared a video of Salim Khan waving at fans from their balcony. The clip also shows fans gathered outside the actor’s Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai. Salman captioned his post, "Eid Mubarak, Thank you very much for your blessings, Dad is back home thank you," accompanied by his latest song Chand Dekh Lena from his upcoming war drama Maathrubhumi.
21 March,2026 09:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid the ongoing success of Dhurandhar 2, actress and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut recently reviewed the film, praising the director Aditya Dhar. Shae shared that filmmakers are often bigger than superstar actors and that they do not get enough credit. While Kangana heaped praises on Dhar, fans noticed that she skipped mentioning the film's cast, including Ranveer Singh, R Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt, Rakesh Bedi and Sara Arjun. Kangana Calls reviews Dhurandhar 2 On Saturday, March 21, Kangana took to her Instagram story to share her views. She penned a note that read, "The best thing about Dhurandhar success is that Aditya Dhar is a superstar director is established, Hollywood superstar directors are always bigger than superstar actors. Eg: Spielberg, Tarantino, Nolan. We never give our film makers enough respect or credit. They are over worked, underpaid and bullied by superstars as a result of that I never meet any young person insider/ outsider who dreams of becoming a film maker or director of photography or any other technician." (sic) Kangana further wrote that everyone claims to be talented, though they only want to be actors. Referring to Aditya, she added that here is a superstar filmmaker shining brighter than any hero. She further stated that many youngsters watching his story today will aspire to be like him and take the film industry to greater heights, saying, "Here is a super star Him maker shinning brighter than any hero. Today so many youngsters are watching his story who will aspire to be like him and take film industry to greater hights!!" The Emergency actress ended her note with, "Salutations sir adityadharfilms." About Dhurandhar 2 Directed by Aditya Dhar, Dhurandhar 2 is an espionage action thriller starring Ranveer Singh, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, Sanjay Dutt and Sara Arjun. The first part of the film, released in theatres on December 5 last year, turned out to be a blockbuster hit. Dhurandhar franchise is said to be inspired by real-life events, focusing on geopolitical tensions and covert operations carried out by India's R&AW. The film particularly highlights Operation Lyari, a crackdown by the Pakistani government targeting gangs and criminal networks in Karachi's Lyari area.
21 March,2026 04:25 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentActress Soha Ali Khan decided to twin with her little princess, Inaaya, this Eid. The adorable mother and daughter duo were seen looking stunning in a white sharara with mirror work and a net dupatta. Soha took to her official Instagram handle and dropped a couple of glimpses from her Eid celebration with her daughter, husband Kunal Kemmu, and other beloved family members. In the first still, we could see Soha getting a peck on the cheek from her little bundle of joy on Eid. Soha and Kunal were also spotted cooking some delicious Eid treats in the kitchen to enjoy with their family. The post further had Soha and Inaaya facing the camera with Sara Ali Khan, who is Soha's niece and Saif Ali Khan's daughter. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Soha (@sakpataudi) In the caption, the Rang De Basanti actress hoped for everyone to choose compassion and humanity during this time of celebration. "Between celebration and reflection today, may we choose compassion and humanity. And may our prayers reach those who need them most. Eid Mubarak #eidmubarak #eidulfitr, (sic)," wrote Soha. Earlier today, Soha's sister Saba Pataudi also gave netizens an insight into her Eid celebration. She revealed that she is gearing up to give Eidis to Jeh, Taimur and other Pataudi babies as part of the Eid tradition. Saba took to her Instagram Stories and published a photo of some neatly arranged envelopes, each labelled for the Pataudi kids. The caption of the photo read, “All the munchkins Eidi!!” In another one of her Stories, Saba extended warm festive wishes to everyone, wishing her followers “Eid Mubarak”. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 March,2026 04:04 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSADVERTISEMENT
